Hold Congress Accountable

Knowledge is power. It makes sure people understand what is happening to their country, and how they can make a difference. FreedomWorks University will give you the tools to understand economics, the workings of government, the history of the American legal system, and the most important debates facing our nation today. Enroll in FreedomWorks University today!

Search FreedomWorks

Resources

Blog

Trampling – “the Consent of the Governed”

“… Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” The Declaration of Independence

Trampling – “the Consent of the Governed”

Violating their statutory rules, the Senate has not produced a budget in three years. Senator Kirk Conrad, Chairman of the Budget Committee, intended to create a budget based on the Bowles-Simpson commission, which the President and Congress have ignored for two years. Most likely bowing to pressures from Senator Harry Reid and the Democratic caucus, Conrad delayed an open debate and vote until after this year’s election. According to the New York Times, Senator Conrad has stated:

“It’s unlikely we will reach agreement until after the election,” he said. “That’s just reality.”

“Reality” is code for Congress and the President intentionally deceiving the governed – We the People. Rather than having an open debate on the most important issue of our era – the enormous and exploding debt – the Senate will wait until the elections are completed. Therefore, prior to the election, voters will not be adequately apprised of the size and impact of the debt. Worse, the public will not be informed or consulted on the proffered solutions. And wrongfully, voters will be denied a vote on the decisions made in a lame-duck session...for at least two years. Senator Conrad, this is immoral and is trampling on the core component of self-government.

Most despicable is the evisceration of the 20th Amendment, which intended to prevent lame-duck sessions. In the 1930’s, the 20th Amendment became part of our Constitution to prohibit legislation being promulgated by Members of Congress that were no-longer accountable to the electorate.

Presently, Congress and the President are intentionally ignoring the intent of the 20th Amendment and are plotting to enact far-reaching pieces of legislation. There are many tax issues and budget issues impacting nearly every American that either expire or are activated on January 1, 2013. Again, the New York Times reports:

On Jan. 1, the Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire, which would raise income tax rates on virtually every household; increase estate, dividend and capital gains tax rates; and shrink popular deductions like the child credit. More than $1 trillion in across-the-board spending cuts would also kick in, creating what the Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, has called an $8 trillion “fiscal cliff.”

If Congress honored the philosophy, intent and the meaning of the Constitution, all of the tax and spending cuts should have an open debate with We the People. Conversely, Congress is plotting to trample on the American people: For example Senator Wyden eagerly awaits for the elections to be concluded. And the New York Times reports:

“Everybody’s waiting for the moment,” said Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, who is negotiating with Senator Dan Coats, Republican of Indiana, to prepare a tax overhaul for the lame-duck session.

Cowardly, arrogantly and harmfully, Congress intends to act on legislation that should be considered prior to the election along with an open participation of We the People with our elected Members of Congress.

Disgracefully, major legislation has been enacted in many lame-duck sessions for the past few years. Morally and realistically, a great society cannot continue to excel when the elected leaders intentionally disregard the rule of law and disrespect a basic tenant of self-governance – “the consent of the governed.”

Thought you might like this idea to allow "We the People" to have a direct Voice on the issues that effect our lives..
Say “NO” to being “Misrepresented”

Say “YES” to a plan to “Represent Your Self”

Article 1
Our Founding Fathers believed that the very 1st Right in the “Bill of Rights” to help the American People protect themselves from the over-reach of the Federal Government should be “Freedom of Speech or VOICE”
This is the tool that we need in each community to allow “the People” to decide what role they want and don`t want their Federal Government to play in their lives..Please share this information...Ron Paul or any other President cannot do this alone..He needs this tool and the help from the American PEOPLE...

There is a way!!!

Please check out this plan to GIVE ALL AMERICANS A "VOICE" ON THE ISSUES THAT EFFECT THEIR LIVES, not just the politicians.
A real 21st Century Plan for America...
Hear it here and see it at http://onevoicenow.info/?page_id=95

People Empowerment Grouphttp://onevoicenow.info/?page_id=95
Our mission is to educate and give a voice to the people of our community by establishing the communication technology, which allows them to participate and have a continuous voice on governmental, political, and community issues.

When this communist government starts arresting WE THE PEOPLE for FREE SPEECH, DON'T start rioting, because that's the excuse for the planned MARTIAL LAW. What needs to be done to fight this communist government is to go after those in the government. Take them, kidnap them, and hold them ransom for our FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS. Get them as HIGH up in the government as you can. If they don't start complying, hang them for being the traitors that they are. But do it quietly, with no witnesses, a few at a time, as gorilla warfare.
This communist government doesn't fight gorilla warfare very well at all. Just don't be noticed and this communist government won't be able to prove who's doing it.

I am absolutely opposed to any suggestion of violence. My post strongly condemns the politicial and moral actions of many politicians. However, there are two peaceful means of correcting these transgressions. Vote them out of office. Or the politicians conform to the intent and spirit of “the consent of the governed.”

The "CRomnibus" government funding bill passed handily last weekend, but not before Senators Lee and Cruz had their say. In a controversial move, the two senators managed to put their colleagues on record voting for or against funding President Obama's latest unconstitutional executive power grab. Many Republican senators, however, protest too much, claiming that Lee and Cruz may have allowed the Democrats to pass a number of executive nominees because of their insistence upon making their point.

The Saturday Night Live used its cold open last weekend to skewer the way President Barack Obama has redefined the lawmaking process through an unprecedented use executive orders and actions to get around Congress, the most recent example of which is the administration deferring action against some 5 million undocumented immigrants.

As one of our over 6.6 million FreedomWorks activists nationwide, I urge you to contact your senators and ask them to vote NO on S.J. Res. 19, a proposed Constitutional amendment that would enshrine into law the government’s ability to restrict political free speech. Sponsored by Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and co-sponsored by 48 of his colleagues, this amendment would take the unprecedented step of amending Americans’ First Amendment rights.

Covering one decision from Circuits 6 through 11, this article is Part 2 of a collection of court cases that you should know about. Court activism throughout the country affects you and your rights so take a glance at the cases below to see the precedents being established that are threatening your civil liberties.

Personal Freedom and Power 106: Funding Government
Senator Mike Lee: “The best thing we can do in Congress is to withhold funds, for Congress to exercise its power of the purse.”
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) is a scholar of our Constitution as well as an advocate for freedom. Over the years, the Obama Administration has unilaterally issued hundreds of rules impacting all aspects of our governing laws – environment, immigration, welfare, war, ObamaCare and the list goes on. Senator Lee knows that Congress has the power of the purse and Congress should withhold funds when the President makes unilateral changes, modifies or ignores existing laws. Recently Lee said, “The best thing we can do in Congress is to withhold funds, for Congress to exercise its power of the purse.”

Governor Kasich (R-OH) is taking flak from conservatives for his plan to expand Medicaid in his state. Not only have his actions been foolish and irresponsible, but he also violated the principle of representative government and even broke the law in order to implement it.

Beltway traffic is never fun to navigate, but starting Friday, it might be getting a whole lot worse. People around the country are getting increasingly upset with our government, which doesn't appear to be listening. With Washington continuing to spiral out of control, people are finding new ways to protest that can’t be ignored.